was going to be born breach, but after some fasting and prayers, she turned and was born normally. It is quite a serious problem to have a breach baby here in Ghana. The baby must be taken caesarean and the chances of having more children are greatly reduced.
One of the most exciting things for us to do in Ghana is to witness Temple ordinances. In June we witnessed the sealing of Charles Mensah and his beautiful wife, Eva. Charles works in the IT Department here in the Area Office. We got to know him well because of all the computer and phone problems we had when we first arrived. When I would get a "little upset" at my computer he would tell me not to despair. He would say, "Computers are NOT like humans, we must take away their agency". Then he would proceed to fix the problem. As a small token of our appreciation, Charles has received many a treat from the Call kitchen.
Another friend we have met in the Area Office is named Stephen Ghartey who works in the Finance Department. After noticing Elder Call's cheery disposition, one day he said, "Elder Call, why are you always so happy?" Elder Call's reply was, "Because I am happily married." The answer was most intriguing to Stephen since he was a young single adult and thus not married. It led to some "counseling sessions" and one day he told us he had someone for us to meet. He brought a beautiful young lady, Bridgette, to our apartment for dinner. They were married also in June.
The sport of choice in Ghana is clearly soccer, or what they call "football". For those who may not be aware, the World Cup was held this year in Brazil which are the soccer play-offs for teams around the world. Ghana qualified to be in the World Cup again this year and you can only imagine the excitement over here, particularly when Ghana was playing that day. Things got really interesting when Ghana played the USA. (By-the-way, the States beat Ghana 2-1.) Elder Call and I are not real soccer fans, and since we are currently living in Ghana, our allegiance definitely leaned toward the "Black Stars". One night, to get into the spirit of the games, we made pop corn and Ghanaian flags with the words, "Go Ghana" on them. We took them around to the Ghanaians here watching the game. Apparently it did not work well because Ghana lost that game and the popcorn was blamed as the jinx for the loss.
The highlight of June was a visit from two of our children. Before we received our mission call, several of our children mentioned how they would like to come and visit us. When the call came to serve in West Africa, the desire to visit seemed to dwindle. However, Todd and Cassie braved the required shots, the malaria pills, and left their 4 children with Anson and Shauna to come to Ghana for a week visit in June. Since our schedule is rather flexible, we took the week off and did a whirl-wind tour. The weather cooperated beautifully and we had a marvelous time.
We visited one place that Elder Call and I had not previously been to. It is a small African village on the edge of the Volta River and is reached by boat. The people in the villages along the river live in mud huts the same way they have lived for centuries. Several years ago some BYU student/professors devised a method to provide battery-powered electricity to many of the villages by using playground equipment. As the children turn and play on the equipment, the large red batteries in the middle of the twirly-whirl are charged. It is fascinating and ingenious!
They also have a clinic there with a nurse that provides some medications. It is pretty basic but at least it is something. I asked the nurse how common HIV was and she said it was very common.
Cassie in front of the clinic The resident nurse and maternity ward
As we approached the school, the younger school children were outside playing and rushed up to us as we approached. They taught us a fun new African game. We did not understand what they were chanting, but got on pretty fast to what we were supposed to do.The children were particularly fascinated with Cassie and her blonde hair.
A particularly large and colorful fishing boat
The next day we headed to Cape
Coast to visit Kakum National
Park and go on the canopy walk.
Later that day we were given a tour of the 2nd Hill Cumorah and other Church History sites in Ghana by James Ewudzie, the fourth person to be officially baptized in Ghana.
Elder Call and James Ewudzie at "Baptism Beach" where Bro. Ewudzie was baptized December 8, 1978. He was 27 years old at the time of his baptism. 
The following day we were able to visit Elmina Castle built by the Dutch to trade goods from Africa and then converted into dungeons for slaves; and Cape Coast Castle built by the British for the trading of slaves.
The court yard in Cape Coast Castle.
The days went on with more and exciting adventures. However, one of my favorite highlights was our visit to the Temple. I had researched some names for temple ordinances before I left for our mission. I gave them to David and Mindy to have our oldest grandchildren do the baptisms and confirmations. Mindy then distributed them among the other children for the other ordinances. Cassie brought her names to Ghana. Since Elder Call and I are temple ordinance workers, we were able to officiate in the initiatories and were also the officiators during the endowment session while Cassie and Todd were the witness couple. It was a very choice and sacred experience and I am so grateful to Cassie for bringing the names to have their ordinance work done in Ghana.
In front of the Temple with Cassie and Todd and Sarah Gyampoh our "adopted" Ghanaian daughter.
So another marvelous month has flown by. Each month I marvel at the experiences we are able to have. I feel so grateful and privileged to have been able to have two of our children share, in a small way, the joy we feel to be in Ghana. The Ghanaian people are such a kind and good people and Cassie and Todd where able to witness that for themselves. I feel Todd expressed it well when he said, "There is not a nicer group of people in the world than Ghana. They are very very poor in temporal things, but very rich in spirit and love."
